819. "AI Superpowers" by Kai-Fu Lee -- 5-Stars

AI Superpowers by Kai-Fu Lee

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

ISBN: 9781328546395 

Most thought provoking book I have ever read.

This is a must read if you want:

• to know what AI is
• to know how AI evolved and the experts behind it
• to know the future of AI
• to know application possibilities, compelling arguments supporting opinions, and the expected leaders of AI implementations to come
• to understand the potential impact of AI, or AGI, on jobs and the economy worldwide
• to understand how America is positioned now and in the future compared to China and other world powers
• to know which occupational fields are least and which are most impacted by AI
• to be an entrepreneur in AI

I guarantee your mind will begin to churn at high levels and your interests will be satisfied. Although I am retired and supposed to be past the active technical and creative stages, I felt reenergized reading this book and now have the desire to jump in and do something, if only imagine and follow future developments.

I can’t think of a reason why anybody would not enjoy this book. Not only does it provide total insight into AI – what it is, where it is already applied, what is being developed now, what and when to expect the next – it is an extremely well written book with perfect structure and continuous interest.

You may not agree entirely with all the author’s opinions, but you’ll find detailed, compelling arguments for them. I, myself, question his comparison to “Silicon Valley” when in most cases it appeared to be just the culture of California residents. I also question his selection of Policy and Funding as important requirements when comparing America to China when it is America’s private companies that drive the policies and the funding, not the government, versus China where nothing gets done unless the government issues a nation-wide policy and funding. Only then do the local governments get funded and fast-money making entrepreneurs get active. To date, this kind of behavior has supported the “copycat” culture in China, which the author explains, and which is accepted there as standard, in addition to, the detailed “spying” on citizen behaviors giving them an advantage is mass data which we in America would deem a major invasion of privacy. It’s that culture that gives China a boost in its short-term entrepreneurs’ endeavors -- the culture of making money fast and then moving on versus Silicon Valley companies that shoot for innovation and notoriety to ensure long-term growth and “monopolistic” status. 

The author is honest and notes the pros and cons of everything, including listing caveats that would make his opinions questionable.

I found this book a very fine text that delivers an entire AI course in a single binder.

Reviewer: Rich